Troopers said that a few seconds either way and Cooper would still be alive.

“That was really sad,” Crater said. “I didn’t know the young man personally, but our prayers go out to his family.”

"It had been a tough year for us with his health, but I know he'd much rather be here and not feel good than not be here and feel great, but at the same time I'm glad to know he's not suffering,” Ashley Cooper said. “He's going to be our guardian angel from now on cause he was always a protector. I don't think not being here is going to stop that."

Officials said six people have been killed as Michael roared through Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.